Question about eddington luminosity

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SUMMARY

The Eddington limit defines the maximum luminosity a celestial object can achieve before radiation pressure overcomes gravitational forces. When an object's luminosity exceeds this limit, it will expel its outer layers, and any nearby particles will be pushed away by the overpowering radiation force. This phenomenon is crucial in understanding stellar dynamics and the behavior of matter in extreme environments.

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  • Familiarity with radiation pressure and gravitational forces
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Astronomers, astrophysicists, and students studying stellar dynamics and radiation effects in space environments will benefit from this discussion.

seeker7
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I have a question regarding the Eddington limit. My question is, an object with any mass has luminosity greater than the Eddington limit. What will happen to a small particle in the nearby region of the object?

I believe the small particle will be pushed away by radiation force because it will overpower the gravitational forces pushing it inward, but I am not sure. Any help greatly appreciated, thank you.
 
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seeker7 said:
I believe the small particle will be pushed away by radiation force because it will overpower the gravitational forces pushing it inward, but I am not sure. Any help greatly appreciated, thank you.

Yes, that is precisely why it's called the Eddington limit. When it is exceeded, the star (or whatever) will shed its outer layers since the radiation force exceeds the gravitational force. Any nearby particles would suffer the same fate.
 

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